The donations of our supporters, people like you, are largely responsible for the Foundation's positive impact as detailed in our newsletters. Thank you for your kind generosity and support in helping save lives and reduce suffering. Much more needs to be done, and it cannot happen without your support.

March 24 - April 6, 2011-- International Fund for Africa Rural Medicine Project is sponsoring a medical mission to Zemero, Ethiopia.

May 19-22, 2011 -- International Fund for Africa co-founder, president Anteneh Roba M.D., will speak at the International Animal Rights Conference in Luxembourg.

June 4-12, 2011 -- International Fund for Africa will participate in the 13th Annual International Vegan Festival in Malaga, Spain.

IFA Sponsors First Annual Small Animal Surgical Training Progam At Jimma University

Team of veterinary doctors from USA demonstrates proper neutering techniques for cats and dogs.

Jimma, Ethiopia, January 17-24, 2011 A team of six veterinary doctors from the USA demonstrated the correct modern surgical techniques and procedures for the spaying and neutering of small animals, particularly dogs and cats, including the proper administration of anesthesia for the students and faculty of the School of Veterinary Medicine of the College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine of Jimma University located in Jimma, Ethiopia. The training was sponsored by International Fund for Africa (IFA) from January 17th through the 24th, and the team was led by Susan Monger DVM International Director Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association Field Services (HSVMA-FS). The team was composed of veterinary doctors from around the US. The training was videotaped for use in training students in these techniques throughout the year.

The gentleman that facilitated the training on behalf of the university was Mihreteab Bekele, DVM, MSC and Assistant Professor at the School of Veterinary Medicine College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine at Jimma University. The IFA ground coordinator for this program was Shewaneh Kinfu, IFA Program Director in Addis Ababa.

This was the first training of an annual program designed to teach these surgical techniques to the faculty and students of the veterinary school at Jimma University and eventually to incorporate them into the school curriculum. Once incorporated into the curriculum, IFA plans to sponsor a spay/neuter program in Jimma at the university with the surgeries performed by the newly trained vets. The plan is to develop the program to the point that the vast majority of the overpopulation of dogs in the Jimma area will be spayed and neutered and vaccinated. This training is part of the ongoing IFA Veterinary Medicine Hospital Project.

For more information on the projects of International Fund for Africa, please go to www.ifundafrica.org.

My Experience Introducing Courses In Small Animal Surgery at Jimma University

- A Teachers Perspective

In 2010, Dr. Anteneh Roba, President of IFA, contacted Rural Area Veterinay Services (RAVS) and HSVMA on regard to assistance with developing a sustainable surgical training program at the College of Veterinary Medicine in Jimma, Ethiopia. After months of planning, the group finally arrived on January 14, 2011.

The RAVS/HSVMA program teaches small animal medicine surgery in many resource challenged veterinary schools, primarily in Latin America and the Caribbean. This was our first trip to the African continent. I can say without a doubt, the staff and students of Jimma University College of Veterinary Medicine and the IFA organization share a vision and dedication to developing a sustainable program that is to be admired and emulated.

After two long days of air travel and then an eight hour drive across country from Addis Ababa to Jimma, we were greeted by the Dean, faculty and students of the university who were eagerly awaiting our arrival. All the participants exhibited a great desire to participate and learn as much as possible in the short time we were there. The course was a great success in every way.

Sustainable programs are dictated by vision, commitment and dedication and an ability to assess progress of the program. Based on continued communications with the faculty and students of Jimma after our departure as well as photographs of the implementation of techniques taught throughout the course, I can be certain this program will succeed, grow and develop into a model program for Ethiopia.

RAVS/HSVMAwould like to express our sincere appreciation to Jimma University and The IFA for their support of our trip and their dedication to animal welfare in Ethiopia. We are honored to be involved with the development of this program and are looking forward to returning in 2012.

Susan Monger, DVM

Director, International Program

Rural Area Veterinary Services

The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association-

Field Services

Veterinary Courses In Ethiopia Making the Grade in Small Animal Surgery Training at Jimma University

- A Faculty Members Perspective

International Fund for Africa (IFA) sponsored an intensive one week training on the spay-neutering of dogs and cats at the School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Jimma University from January 17-22, 2011.

The training was the first of its kind in Ethiopia and was of paramount importance because it has enabled the School of Veterinary Medicine to begin the process of including the care of small animals in its curriculum for future generations of veterinary students.

Up until now, the care of small animals was not part of the curriculum. The IFA sponsored team consisting of six veterinarians from various parts of the United States provided a week-long intensive training for the staff and graduating students of the School of Veterinary Medicine. The trainees experienced modern hands-on surgical protocols focusing on the spay-neutering of companion animals.

Jimma University is one of the pre-eminent universities in Ethiopia pursuing a community-based education philosophy. As part of this philosophy, the University, along with its regular teaching, learning and research activities, is endeavoring to address the multifaceted problems of the local community. Changing the local attitude towards animals and their humane handling as well as the prevention of rabies and other zoonotic diseases associated with overpopulation of dogs is one of the goals of the relationship between IFA and Jimma University. To this end, the skills obtained through the January training are to be eventually utilized to reduce and contain the large dog population in Jimma and its surroundings, ultimately making Jimma a model to other cities of Ethiopia and eventually to the whole of Africa. IFA, Jimma University, IFA and all those involved with this project are committed to work for the realization of this goal.

Finally, the School of Veterinary Medicine in particular and Jimma University in general are very grateful to IFA and especially Dr. Anteneh T. Roba, president of IFA, for their relentless and unstinting effort to make all these happen.

Mihreteab Bekele (DVM, MSc, Assistant Professor)

School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine

There is no greater unconditional, undying love than that between man and animals. Dave found Shela when she was seven weeks old and they have been together since for 9 years now. They are best friends, soul mates, and inseparable. Both vegan for 4 years, they share their food, bed, good times, and love.